Australia’s largest live cattle exporter Wellard is to extend ship finance repayment schedules for two of its vessels, the 12,665 GT Ocean Ute and the 33,774 GT Ocean Drover.
The company said it has reached a conditional agreement with Ruchira Ships Limited to extend by 24-28 months the repayment schedules for the abovementioned vessel duo until December 2021. Originally, AUD 20 million was due to be paid between now and December 2019.
As explained, Ruchira provides vessel finance on each of these vessels through a sale and leaseback contract. If the agreement becomes unconditional, there will no longer be near-term balloon payments due in the first half of FY2020 on the bareboat charter arrangements for these vessels.
A standstill arrangement which includes a waiver of existing defaults has also been reached with Ruchira, according to Wellard.
This would enable Wellard to further advance its ongoing financial restructure, with lower monthly repayment obligations and improved cashflow.
“Wellard is pleased to have had the ongoing cooperation of Ruchira to achieve these arrangements. They represent further evidence of progress in our financial restructure, and provide a clear path forward for the company,” John Klepec, Wellard Executive Chairman, commented.
“Immediate and significant cash flow benefits will result from lowering the amortisation payments and deferring until December 2021 the requirement to buy back the M/V Ocean Drover and M/V Ocean Ute.”
The Ocean Ute and Ocean Drover are owned by Ruchira and leased back to Niuyang Express and Ocean Drover respectively, both of which are wholly owned Wellard subsidiaries.